Cracking Up Poster

Cracking Up 1977

★ 1.01 votes69 min📅 1977-07-01

In 1977, Rowby Goren crafted a quirky comedy gem with *Cracking Up*, a madcap anthology film that explores the absurd side of disaster. Set against the premise of a catastrophic 9.

Director: Rowby Goren

Cast

Michael Mislove
Michael Mislove
Prairie Prince
Prairie Prince
Peter Bergman
Barbara Halters
Phil Proctor
Phil Proctor
Walter Concrete
Harry Shearer
Harry Shearer
Michael McKean
Michael McKean
Edie McClurg
Edie McClurg
Fred Willard
Fred Willard
Jim Staahl
Jim Staahl
Tino Insana
Tino Insana

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cracking Up (1977) about?

*Cracking Up* imagines the aftermath of a massive earthquake hitting Los Angeles, but not in the way you'd expect. Instead of a traditional disaster film, it's a collection of offbeat sketches where the cast improvises wildly around the premise, turning chaos into comedy. The movie thrives on unpredictability, blending satire with pure silliness in a format that feels both timeless and distinctly 70s.

Who directed Cracking Up?

Rowby Goren is the director behind *Cracking Up (1977)*, steering the project with a playful vision that prioritizes humor over realism.

Who stars in Cracking Up?

The film features an ensemble cast including Michael Mislove, Prairie Prince, Peter Bergman, Phil Proctor, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean, all delivering sharp improvisations.

Is Cracking Up (1977) worth watching?

While *Cracking Up* isn't a mainstream hit, its 70s-era absurdism and improvisational charm make it a curiosity for comedy fans. The 69-minute runtime keeps it breezy, though its unrated status and niche appeal mean it's more of a cult pick than a must-see. Still, for those who enjoy offbeat, low-stakes humor, it's a fun artifact worth a look.

How long is Cracking Up?

*Cracking Up* runs for 69 minutes, making it a quick, digestible watch for fans of short-form comedy.

About Cracking Up (1977) — A 70s Comedy Anthology of Disaster and Absurdity

In 1977, Rowby Goren crafted a quirky comedy gem with *Cracking Up*, a madcap anthology film that explores the absurd side of disaster. Set against the premise of a catastrophic 9.7 magnitude earthquake striking Los Angeles, the movie ditches doom-and-gloom survival tropes for a series of rapid-fire skits packed with irreverent humor and offbeat creativity. The cast—Michael Mislove, Prairie Prince, Peter Bergman, Phil Proctor, Harry Shearer, and Michael McKean—delivers sharp improvisations and original material, transforming a potential tragedy into a playground for satire and wit. With its low-stakes, high-energy approach, *Cracking Up (1977)* blends fantasy, sci-fi, and comedy into a uniquely 70s cinematic experience that feels like a time capsule of off-the-wall humor.

Set in a pre-digital era where weirdness thrived, this 69-minute short film revels in the chaos of hypothetical disaster. The performers' improvisational prowess shines as they riff on everything from mass hysteria to surreal survival scenarios, all wrapped in a breezy, no-frills format. Goren's direction keeps the tone light and playful, steering clear of heavy-handed disaster tropes in favor of absurdist sketches that feel as fresh today as they must have in the late 70s. *Cracking Up* isn't just a time capsule—it's a celebration of 70s counter-culture comedy, where the end of the world is just another punchline waiting to be delivered.